Before you think about training make sure you have a valid licence.
With a full car licence you can learn on bikes up to 125cc. Otherwise
you will need to apply to DVLA for provisional motorcycle entitlement to
be added. A provisional bike licence is valid until 70 years of age (if
supported by a C.B.T certificate). Also make sure
that your licence has your current address on it.

Compulsory Basic Training is the first step everyone has to take.
They will check your documents and eyesight. You can use your own bike
but most riders borrow a training school bike. It involves a mixture of
theory, basic bike control, practice riding on an off road car park area;
it's an ongoing assessment that isn't conducted on a pass or fail basis. It is
usually done in one day.

The CBT course involves five elements:

A. introduction

B. practical on-site training

C. practical on-site riding

D. practical on-road training

E. practical on-road riding

The five elements have to be completed in sequence, although the
order of the exercises within the element can be varied. You will only
move on to the next element when your instructor is satisfied you have
learnt the necessary theory and demonstrated the practical skills to a
safe basic level. Trainees must, by law, receive a minimum two hour
on-road ride in Element E.

When all five elements have been satisfactorily completed, a
certificate of completion, called the DL196, is issued. This is a legal
document which validates the relevant entitlements on your driving
licence. It is important that the holder of a DL196 considers the
following points:

a DL196 certificate validating a provisional moped or
provisional motorcycle entitlement lasts for two years - CBT
will have to be retaken if both theory and practical tests
are not passed within the two year certificate life

for moped entitlement only, if you pass your car driving
test whilst your DL196 is still current or complete a CBT
course and obtain a DL196 after passing your car test, the
certificate is not subject to expiry, you will therefore
need to keep your DL196 certificate safely. Please note that
this applies to mopeds only, for riding motorcycles as a
learner the DL196 remains valid for two years

Once you have your certificate you are advised to take additional
training to pass your theory and practical tests and qualify for a
motorcycle or moped licence. You must take the DL196 certificate with
you when you go to your practical test.

You now need to take a multiple choice test of about 35 questions
lasting about 30-40 minutes, complete with a series of video clips where
a candidate must pick out developing hazards. There are plenty of books
available to guide you but do do your homework ! Since 1 February 2001, anyone
wishing to take a motorcycle test must pass the theory test before they
can book the practical test. There is no exemption for Car Licence
holders.

After the usual pre-test preliminaries e.g. licence and
identification check the examiner will help the candidate with the
fitting of the radio and earpiece.

While accompanying the candidate to the machine the examiner will
explain how the test will be conducted and how the radio equipment
works.

The law requires anyone riding a motorcycle, scooter or moped,
with or without sidecar, to wear protective headgear securely
fastened. The test cannot therefore be conducted unless the
candidate is wearing properly secured protective headgear.

Note:

An exemption to this requirement exists for followers of the Sikh
religion if they are wearing a turban.

An emergency stop is given on every motorcycle test and can be
given at any time during the test. The candidate will be told the
route to take and the examiner will demonstrate the signal that will
be given.

wheeling / stand exercise

The candidate will be asked to position the machine alongside the
kerb and put it on its stand, then take the machine off the stand
and wheel it across the road in a 'U' turn. (Either a centre or side
stand is acceptable, but a machine without a stand is not suitable
for the purposes of the test).

U-turn exercise

Via the radio, the examiner will ask the candidate to ride the
machine back across the road. The candidate will be asked to move
off from a parked position and to turn the machine around to face
the opposite way, within the road width.

slow ride exercise

If the candidate has not had the opportunity to demonstrate their
ability to control the machine at slow speed e.g. at junctions, they
will be asked to ride as if in slow-moving traffic as a separate
exercise.

After the practical part of the test the candidate will
be asked a question on 'balance when carrying a passenger'.

When the practical test is over, the examiner will tell
you whether you passed or failed. You can request feedback
on your test from the examiner, who will then go through
your performance during the test.